Finishing an incomplete irrigation revamp with two dedicated drip zones for newly landscaped flower beds around a pool project.

A new pool can completely change the irrigation needs of a property. Lawn areas may be reduced, flower beds may be added or reshaped, sprinkler heads may need to be relocated, and areas that once used conventional sprays may be better served by dedicated drip irrigation.

That was the situation at this property in New Baltimore, Michigan. The homeowners had completed a beautiful new pool project and an irrigation revamp had been started afterward, but portions of the work remained unfinished.

Two landscaped flower beds still needed dedicated irrigation, and several existing 4-inch spray heads around the lawn were sitting too low for the surrounding conditions.

Hunter HydroTech stepped in to finish the remaining irrigation work, including the installation of two dedicated drip irrigation zones designed specifically for the landscaped beds.

Why Pool and Landscape Projects Often Require Irrigation Changes

An existing sprinkler system is normally designed around the property as it existed when the irrigation was installed.

When a pool, patio, walkway or new landscape bed is added, that original design can change dramatically.

Sprinkler lines may end up beneath new hardscaping, existing heads may no longer be positioned correctly, lawn areas may change shape, and new flower beds may require a completely different method of watering.

That is why irrigation work following a major landscape project often involves more than simply moving one or two sprinkler heads.

The goal should be to evaluate how the property is now being used and redesign the irrigation around the finished landscape.

Two Flower Beds Still Needed Irrigation

At this New Baltimore property, two flower beds created as part of the improved outdoor space still needed dependable watering.

Instead of trying to water those beds with lawn spray heads, we installed dedicated drip irrigation zones.

Drip irrigation is particularly useful for landscaped beds because it applies water close to the plant root area rather than spraying water broadly through the air.

That makes it possible to irrigate shrubs, flowers and other plant material separately from the surrounding lawn.

Why Separate Drip Zones Matter

A flower bed and a lawn usually do not have identical watering requirements.

Turf is commonly irrigated using sprays or rotors that distribute water across a larger surface area. Drip irrigation works differently by delivering water gradually along the planting area.

Putting the landscaped areas on dedicated drip zones gives the irrigation controller much more control over how long and how often those areas operate.

That is especially useful when plants need a different watering schedule than nearby grass.

It also avoids relying on overspray from lawn sprinklers to keep landscape beds watered.

Installing the New Drip Irrigation Zones

For this project, we added two dedicated drip zones to serve the separate flower-bed areas.

Each zone was connected into the irrigation system so the landscaped areas could operate independently from the lawn sprinklers.

Once the irrigation supply reached the planting areas, the drip distribution could be routed throughout the beds where the plants actually needed water.

Creating dedicated zones rather than simply attaching drip tubing to an unrelated lawn zone allows the landscape irrigation to be managed much more intentionally.

Why Drip Irrigation Works Well Around Pools and Landscaped Areas

Pool projects often create tight planting areas where conventional overhead irrigation is not ideal.

Using large spray patterns near a pool deck, patio or other hard surface can result in unnecessary water landing on concrete, furniture, windows or other areas that do not need irrigation.

Drip irrigation allows water to remain concentrated within the landscape bed instead.

When designed properly, this makes drip a useful option for:

• Flower beds
• Shrub beds
• Landscape islands
• Plantings near patios
• Pool landscaping
• Narrow planting areas
• Areas where overhead spray would create excessive overspray

Existing Lawn Sprinklers Also Needed Attention

The unfinished drip irrigation was not the only issue we noticed at the property.

Several existing lawn sprinklers were 4-inch spray heads that were sitting too low relative to the surrounding turf and landscape conditions.

A sprinkler head that sits too low can have its spray pattern blocked by grass, resulting in poor distribution even when the nozzle itself is working correctly.

In locations where turf height or surrounding conditions require additional clearance, a taller spray body can sometimes provide a better long-term setup than leaving a shorter head buried too deeply in the lawn.

We addressed the affected sprinkler locations while completing the remaining irrigation work so the lawn and landscaped areas could function as parts of one complete system.

The Difference Between Lawn Irrigation and Drip Irrigation

One of the most important parts of irrigation design is matching the watering method to the landscape.

A lawn needs relatively even coverage across a continuous area. That is why properly spaced sprays and rotors are commonly used for turf.

Flower beds are different. The goal is often to deliver water around individual plants or planting rows without watering every square foot around them in the same way a lawn requires.

Drip irrigation can provide that targeted watering while also keeping the flower-bed schedule separate from the turf schedule.

Why We Don't Like Mixing Drip and Lawn Sprinklers Without a Plan

Connecting drip irrigation to an existing lawn zone may look like an easy solution, but it can create problems when two completely different watering methods are forced to operate for the same amount of time.

The lawn may need one runtime while the flower bed needs another.

A dedicated drip zone allows the controller to treat the planting area independently.

This is especially valuable on properties where a pool installation or landscape renovation has changed the original irrigation layout.

Finishing an Irrigation Revamp Correctly

When Hunter HydroTech takes over an unfinished irrigation revamp, our goal is not simply to complete the missing item on the original list.

We look at how the existing system interacts with the new landscaping and determine whether the remaining design still makes sense.

On this New Baltimore project, that meant completing the two flower-bed drip zones while also addressing lawn sprinkler locations that needed attention.

The finished system now has irrigation specifically designed for both the turf and the new landscaped areas rather than expecting one watering method to handle everything.

Common Signs a Landscape Bed Could Benefit From Drip Irrigation

Homeowners may want to consider a dedicated drip zone when they notice situations such as:

• Flower beds are being watered mainly by overspray from lawn sprinklers.
• Sprinklers are spraying heavily onto a patio or pool deck.
• New landscaping has been added after the original irrigation installation.
• Plants require a different watering schedule than the surrounding lawn.
• Narrow landscape areas are difficult to irrigate with conventional sprays.
• A pool, patio or walkway has changed the original sprinkler layout.
• Existing zones no longer match the way the property is landscaped.

Can Drip Irrigation Be Added to an Existing Sprinkler System?

Yes. In many properties, dedicated drip irrigation can be added to an existing sprinkler system without replacing the entire irrigation system.

The existing water supply, controller capacity, valve configuration and available zone flow should be evaluated first.

From there, a new zone can be designed to serve the landscaped area independently from the existing lawn zones.

This makes drip irrigation a useful upgrade when homeowners add landscaping, renovate their yard or install a new pool.

Why Sprinkler Coverage Should Be Reevaluated After a Pool Installation

A new pool changes more than the appearance of a backyard.

The excavation, hardscaping and landscaping can significantly alter the original irrigation design.

Existing lateral lines may need to be rerouted. Heads may need to be moved or replaced. Turf areas may become narrower or change shape, while completely new planting beds may need irrigation for the first time.

Once the pool and landscaping are complete, the sprinkler system should be evaluated based on the new property layout rather than simply trying to recreate the old configuration.

Drip Irrigation Installation in New Baltimore, Michigan

This New Baltimore project is a good example of how an existing sprinkler system can be adapted after a major property improvement.

Rather than relying on lawn sprinklers to water the new landscaping, two dedicated drip zones were installed for the flower beds while the surrounding sprinkler system was addressed as part of the remaining revamp work.

Hunter HydroTech handles irrigation repairs, system revamps, additional zones and drip irrigation throughout Southeast Michigan.

Learn more about our new irrigation installation and zone additions and sprinkler repair services.

You can also explore our sprinkler and irrigation services in New Baltimore, MI or view the complete Hunter HydroTech service area directory.

If landscaping, a patio or a new pool has changed the way your property needs to be watered, the irrigation system can often be redesigned around the new layout rather than completely starting over.